Have you ever been in a conversation with someone, looking each other in the eye, explaining important information, when suddenly it dawns on you that your partner hasn’t really heard a word you’ve said? Somewhat more off-putting is when you suddenly realise you haven’t heard a word your discussion partner has said, though you try to look interested as you nod your head in agreement.

Do you remember working with that group of people who are supposed to be collaborating on an important project but can’t seem to get past their interpersonal animosities, prejudices and preconceptions? Their personal relationships and a basic lack of trust are sabotaging their ability to get the job done.

Have you ever tried to listen to someone explain something to you in English and realise that you don’t understand that person because s/he is using terminology or jargon that is as foreign to you as if s/he was speaking in some archaic dialect?

As our world globalises and shrinks, we come into regular contact with a more diverse and complex assortment of people. Men and women, people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds, technologists and salespeople, young and not so young all find themselves interacting together. Effective communication is critical to our successful collaboration with these colleagues, customers and suppliers.

Yet the differences between us are not always easily bridged. Misunderstandings abound. Preconceptions about who people are, what their intentions might be and whether they are friend or foe profoundly influence our decisions. Communicating with people you don’t particularly like is difficult at best. Collaborating with those you distrust is next to impossible.

So how should you communicate when you’re having difficulty communicating? That’s where ‘dialogue’ comes in.

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